Grand Slam Day 14- Womens Final- Australian Open 2024

[BobbyMorri]

Day 14. This used to be the last day of the tournament. Not this year due to the Sunday start. Thank god they did that to prevent all those late finishes.....

Weather: 14-23C. Perfect weather. Little bit of wind, but I not sure that is a huge factor on RLA.

Rod Laver Arena
Night Session From 7:30pm
Womens Final
Sabalenka vs [2] vs Zheng [12]

Mens Doubles Final
Bolel / Vavas : vs Bopan / Ebden (2)

Womens Final Preview



Aryna Sabalenka

• Rank: 2
• DOB: 5/5/98
• Career Achievements: Australia Open 2023, Former World Number 1 in singles and doubles, 13 Career Titles.

Last year: Loud and a huge hitter; winning her first Grand Slam in Australia was significant. She had often failed to take that step, and perhaps, by winning here, she had thrown that monkey off her back. Alas, it didn't quite turn out that way. She would only win one more title, the 1000 event on the clay at Madrid. But it would be the 2 tight semi-final losses to Muchova (who saved an MP and won the last 5 games) and Ons Jabeur that defined her season after Australia. She would also lose the US Open final to Coco Gauff. Still, she would hold the number 1 ranking for a couple of months, only losing it in the last match of the 2023 season when Iga won the end-of-year champs. A good year, her best yet, but it could have been so much better.

This year/Tournament: She would lose the final of Brisbane, badly, to Rybakina, getting bagelled in the first set. Since then, she had barely been tested. Coco was close, but it always felt that she had it under control, even when Coco served for the set. She hasn't lost a set so far this tournament. Before Coco, she had only lost 16 games in 10 sets.

• First Round: Seidel 6-0, 6-1
• Second Round: Fruhvirtova 6-3, 6-2
• Third Round: Tsurenko (28) 6-0, 6-0
• Fourth Round: Anisimova 6-3, 6-2
• Quarter Final: Krejcikova (9) 6-2, 6-3
• Semi: Gauff (4) 7-6, 6-4

Zheng Qinwen

• Rank: 15
• DOB: 8/10/02
• Career Achievements: Quarter Final US Open 2003, Most Improved Player Award 2023, 2 Career Titles

Last year: This one is going to test my knowledge. She started the season as the 28th-ranked player. Her start was that of a player ranked around there. A couple of deep runs at WTA tournaments but nothing outstanding. It wasn't until after Wimbledon that she started to reach her current level. She won her first title at Palermo and went to the 2nd week of a slam for the first time in the US Open. She ended the season by winning 12 of her last 15 matches culminating with a final at the WTA Elite Trophy and her 2nd title at home at Zhengzhou. She achieved a new career-high ranking of No.15 by year's end.

This year/Tournament: She played at the United Cup for China, winning 2 and only losing to Iga. At Melbourne Park, Zheng hasn't played anyone inside the top 50. Her highest-ranking opponent was against Boulter (rank 54) in the 2nd round. The draw opened up for her, and she has taken full advantage. She needed a last-set TB to beat countrywoman Wang (rank 94), and she was awful in the first set and a half in her quarter-final against Kalinskaya. She has been patchy at times but solid enough overall to make her final major final.

• First Round: Krueger 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
• Second Round: Boulter 6-3, 6-3
• Third Round: Wang 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
• Fourth Round: Dodin 6-0, 6-3
• Quarter Final: Kalinskaya 6-7, 6-3, 6-1
• Semi: Yastremska 6-4, 6-4

Head to Head: 1-0 to Sabalenka, US Open Quarter-Final 6-1, 6-4. Zheng was tight in her first match at a huge arena. An easy win for Sabalenka in 75 minutes.

Prediction: Easy. Sabalenka. Anything else is just hopeful. Zheng has done well and is talented. But she has often been inconsistent in her matches, from what little I have seen. She showed she could defeat a similar big hitter last round vs. Yastremska. But Sabalenka is at another level and has been unbeatable in Melbourne these last 2 years.

Score Prediction: 6-2, 6-3

 

[Zevon]

Great write-up BobbyMorri
Keen to see Sabalenka win this and it does look hers to lose

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Hopefully we see a bagel

I never thought I’d want Sabs to win but here we are, more happy if she wins and gets the world number 1 soon she’s the best player on the tour and comfortably

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

At least she's not boring like Iga hope Saba romps it in

 

[My Cotchin Rules]

Why no love for Zheng in here? She's been superb ever since the UC.
It would be great for womens tennis if a non eastern European can win it again, especially an Asian.
However heart says Zheng but head says Saba in straight sets.

 

[Underarm]

Hopefully we see a bagel

Why do you hate tennis so much?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Why do you hate tennis so much?

Huh? I’d rather see Sabalenka smack her. Much rather her at no1, best player period right now why would I want it to be close

 

[Some Idiot]

Zheng winning would be cool, but Sabalenka looks unstoppable

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Think Sabalenka will go back to back.

 

[Underarm]

Havent watched a single womens match all tournament, wont watch final

Basil? Is that you?

 

[Munich]

What are the chances you get two players from Belarus, Belarus, a tiny country, both winning AO, both making USO final, both losing to a black American, both backing their title up against a Chinese player.

Saba in 3.

 

[Chism]

Hope we get a good match but i am strongly feeling Sabs in straight sets.

She will just be to powerful IMO.

 

[Drummond]

Hoping for a Sabs win but I like both. Instantly impressed the first time I ever saw Zheng in person, her ball striking is sublime.

 

[Acinath]

Strong start!

 

[BobbyMorri]

Geech...Saba is on

Can hear the Chinese support.

 

[matt_897]

Sabalenka in 2 for me. Should be too strong if no mental lapses

 

[Chism]

Ominous signs.

Sabs is killing any 2nd serve and really not struggling in Zhengs firsts either.

Will be a quick kill for Sabs.

 

[Drummond]

Well, didn’t get the break back from 0-40. Could be a bagel this.

 

[Drummond]

Superb service game Zheng!

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Saba

 

[Chism]

Superb service game Zheng!

4-1 down she will need 10 of em to get close.

 

[largebus]

The only way zheng wins is if she nails her 1st serve and Sabalenka has an off day with her 1st serve. So far it ain't happening.

 

[JackNah_8]

Sabalenka looks unbeatable

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Good luck tyring to break Saba she's almost unbeatable on serve

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Bit of a difference than playing her highest seed of Katie Boulter lol